Woman Wanted In MD Infant Sex Abuse Case Indicted: Department Of Justice

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — After authorities last month released photos of a suspect believed to have sexually abused a child on video, a Capitol Heights woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of sexual exploitation of a child and child sex trafficking.

According to the two-count indictment released by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, on approximately Dec. 5, 2020, Verena May Mathis, 24, produced sexually explicit images of a child younger than 14, and used the victim, later identified as an infant, to engage in a commercial sex act.

Authorities became aware of the abuse when a video depicting the infant and Mathis was found during a search of the online accounts of Eugene Edward Golden, 38, of Baltimore, a defendant in a separate child exploitation case.

On Feb. 13, Maryland State Police released redacted photographs to the public showing the distinctive tattoos of the woman in the video with the infant, with an offer of up to $14,000 in reward money for information leading to her identification. A public tip led to the arrest of Mathis.

• Related: Infant Sex Abuse Case Suspect Sought; $14K Reward: MD Police

According to authorities, investigators said the woman in the video, later identified as Mathis, knew the identity of the baby girl who was sexually abused several years ago on camera. Authorities said the victim is now likely 4 or 5 years old.

If convicted, Mathis faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a child and a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to life in federal prison for child sex trafficking.

Golden has been charged in a 160-count second superseding indictment with conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child, sexual exploitation of children, child sex trafficking and receipt and possession of child pornography.

The superseding indictment alleges that Golden communicated with women to arrange for the creation of content featuring minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. If convicted, Golden faces up to life in federal prison.